Tips to Help Prevent Indoor Mold Growth in Homes and Buildings throughout Puerto Rico

Exposure to mold can cause a variety of health effects according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, burning eyes or a skin rash in some people. Asthmatics who are allergic to mold may have severe reactions and CDC warns that immunocompromised individuals, and people with chronic lung disease, could be at risk of getting lung infections from some types of mold found indoors.

Anytime there is enough moisture, from flood damage, elevated humidity levels, condensation or water leaks, mold can begin to grow in a home, school, office or any type of building within just a few days. To help prevent indoor mold growth in residential environments, CDC provides the following tips:

• Keep humidity levels in the home low - no higher than 50% - all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help keep the level low. Humidity levels change over the course of a day so check the humidity levels more than once during the day.
• Be sure the air in the home flows freely. Use exhaust fans that vent outside the home in the kitchen and bathrooms. Also make sure the clothes dryer vents outside the home.
• Fix any leaks in the home’s roof, walls or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow.
• Clean up and dry out the home fully and quickly (within 24–48 hours) after a flood.
• Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.
• Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried right away. Think about not using carpet in places like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.

“Quickly identifying and responding to an indoor moisture issue is the best way to prevent mold from growing and causing property damage and indoor air quality problems,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “At Zimmetry, our building science and indoor environmental quality professionals provide site assessments, investigations, testing, monitoring and consulting services to prevent, identify and mitigate exposure risks to mold and other hazards.”

Zimmetry also recently sponsored an educational video that shares the CDC’s tips to prevent indoor mold growth that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/7XthSUBvJ0k

To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their mold, indoor air quality, environmental, compliance and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals, and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs, and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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